The Creative Present
Welcome to The Creative Present. This show is about expanding your creative self-expression. And, at the same time getting your projects done. JoshuaTownshend.com We start the work by being present. Present to yourself, your process, your current creative project. The first step is always to be present, so you can do the most potent and impactful work. To do this you will want to deepen the following; yourself, your senses, your inner space, your thoughts, your feelings, and your impeccable intention. All while being present to your own creative impulse in the here and now. Working with customized techniques to help your creative development and process. You have so many skill sets that were born with and talents that are innate to you. We need to capitalize on these traits first. After that, then you can stretch yourselves as a creative. Develop more layers and facets to your work, your projects, and yourself. On a project level, the main work is about the story, because the story is always at the heart of what we do. Awareness, sense, and sensibility development is foundational. Getting in touch with who you are and where you're going is key if you wish to consciously create. These aspects of the creative process tend to be cast aside while working on projects. While side-stepping these phases can be alluring in the short-term, it will wind up costing you more in the long term. What you are working on here is a merging of the states of awareness as a creative. Along with the proper tools and techniques for the project that you're working on. This work amalgamates towards one cohesive end. Helping you to complete your projects. Then, get that project out into the world while maintaining your creative development. We all need to break old habits that are not in our best interest, creatively speaking. These old paradigms include; not completing, not starting, getting stuck halfway through, not putting our projects and ourselves out into the world. We all have a propensity towards at least one of these dynamics. We want to cultivate a new habit. This cycle of creation we are about to talk about has been around for millennia. It is a cycle that's based on the natural world, which has three distinct phases: Create, Release, Relax. We create something, we release it into the world, then relax. This cycle is in the natural world. You can see it everywhere. In the microcosm, we do it every single day, every moment of our lives, it is - breathing. When you breathe, there are the same three phases. You create a breath, you release the breath, and then you have a little moment of relaxation. Then, the next cycle repeats itself. With this kind of natural process, there is no time, there's timing, there's no force, there is a state of being. Some of the practical tools and tips are only there to serve you to get you through the next phase of development. The state of awareness and deepening your creativity is a continual development phase. There are no know limits. When deep in your creative process, you can go beyond what you are working on. You will have the ability to delve deep into your consciousness and experience the creative self in a new way. We are always working on both priorities at the same time. Consciously creating the foundational sense and sensibilities as creatives. And at the same time - getting projects completed and out into the world. They might appear to be the classic pair of opposites pulling against each other. From another perspective, they are complementary. Both aspects are asking for expansion and contraction at different times. To birth a baby you will need to have both expansion and contraction. To birth your new creative self, the pair of these opposites is essential. Key Words: alchemy, conscious creation, creative writing, screenplays, story, character development, acting, performing
Episodes
Mastering Your Creative Flow: The Art of Directing Energy
Ever feel like you’re riding a wave of inspiration one minute, then stuck in a creative rut the next? That’s your energy talking, and it’s got a lot to say. In the latest episode of The Creative Present podcast, Joshua Townshend dives into the secret sauce of creativity: directing your energy flow at will. Whether you’re an actor commanding a stage, a writer scribbling in a q...
Creating Your Body Of Work: Embracing Vertical Time
This work is for anyone who wished to enter the realm of the Conscious Creator - and go deep into the well of "All That Is" and make their work impactful and universal.
Creativity is a river that runs through our lives, sometimes rushing, sometimes meandering, but always present. It's not confined to the moments we sit down to write, paint, or perform—it's woven into the fabric of ...
Today, we'll explore how moving from the ordinary to the non-ordinary can unlock new creative possibilities.
From Patterns to Chaos to Growth
We all live in patterns. As creatives, we have routines, habits, and ways of approaching our craft. These patterns are essential—they help us navigate the complexities of storytelling, character development, and the creative process. However, staying too long in the same pattern can limit gro...
Welcome to The Creative Present! Today, we're diving deep into a topic that hits close to home for many creatives—breaking free from patterns. Whether you're an artist, actor, writer, or just someone looking to explore your own narrative, understanding and expanding beyond repetitive patterns is crucial. It’s about giving space to your space, allowing spaciousness in your work, and going beyond the boundaries of time and space.
Pa...
Welcome back to The Creative Present! I’m Joshua Townshend, your host, and today we’re diving into something essential for all creatives: the subordinate image. Whether you’re an actor, writer, or artist of any kind, this concept can transform your work in profound ways. Let’s explore how!
What Is a Subordinate Image?
A subordinate image is the image behind the image—it's the underlying emotion, experience, or thought that breathe...
The Power of One-Minute Breathing: A Practice for Creatives
Every morning, I begin with a simple yet profound practice that grounds me for the day: one-minute breathing. This technique is precisely what it sounds like—slowing the breath down to one complete breath cycle per minute. It's a practice of intentional breathing that goes like this: a 20-second inhale, a 20-second suspension, and a 20-second exhale.
In that minute...
Welcome to The Creative Present, where we delve into expanding your creative self-expression while getting your projects done.
The creative process is like an endless game full of possibilities, joy, and discovery. It’s not just about understanding ourselves and our projects; it's about understanding the world around us and how we relate to it. My daily practice revolves around finding these moments of awareness in the mu...
I developed the Three Circles of Attention framework in my work with actors, writers, and other creatives. This framework is a tool for navigating the myriad possibilities in any given scene, allowing you to consciously choose where to focus your creative energy.
First Circle of Attention: The Internal World
- This is where everything begins—within the character. It includes their thoughts, feelings, memories, and sensory expe...
Today, we’re diving deep into a concept that can transform the way you approach every scene you write or perform: alternative realities.
The Nature of Alternative Realities
Every scene you write or perform exists within a web of alternative realities. These are not just theoretical possibilities; they are the rich, textured pathways that characters often navigate subconsciously as they move through their stories. The awareness...
Introduction: Seeking Surprises
As creatives, our constant quest is to discover the new and the unexpected. Whether we’re writers, actors, filmmakers, or any kind of storyteller, our work thrives on surprises—both for ourselves and for our audience. We don’t want to create the same old thing; we want to unearth something fresh, something that feels like an adventure happening in real-time.
But discovery isn’t always about gran...
Welcome to The Creative Present, a space I created to support all of us in expanding our creative self-expression while—here’s the kicker—actually getting our projects done. Yes, you can have both! I’m Joshua Townshend, your guide on this wild journey.
Now, I’ve been thinking a lot about two very different yet essential states of being that form the foundation of your creative process. If you aren’t actively working with these...
Embracing Presence: The Dance of Polarity in Narrative
Welcome to the sixth and final episode in our series on presence!
Today, we're exploring the law of polarity, the dynamic dance between expansion and contraction, positive and negative, light and dark, masculine and feminine, and more. Understanding and utilizing this polarity is essential for creating compelling narratives that captivate creators and audiences.
<...
Embracing Presence: Expanding Your Creative Space - Part 5
Working with presence is about opening and filling the space with your entire being. It's about awareness—fully aware allows you to fill the creative space, giving you more resources to draw from in your creative endeavors. Let's dive into how this works and how you can practice it in your daily life.
Opening the Space
The more aware you are, the mo...
The Direction of Focus: Harnessing Creative Impulses with Intention
The Power of Focus and Intention in Creativity
Focus and intention are key in the realm of creativity. Let's explore how to take a creative impulse and direct it with intention, creating a more impactful and coherent artistic expression.
Setting the Baseline of Intention
Every creative endeavor should start with a clear baseline of intention. This cou...
Embodying Creativity: Thoughts, Feelings, and Sensory Inputs in Your Art
Thoughts and Feelings: From a Somatic Experience Point Of View.
Let's dive into the fascinating interplay between thoughts and feelings.
Imagine your thoughts and feelings as a two-way street, where one influences the other. It's a bit like a dance – sometimes it's a waltz, other times it's a cha-cha. The key element here is to...
Being More Present: Focus of Attention
This is part two of our six-part series about being present and everything that comes with it.
Focus of Attention
Today, we're zooming in on the focus of attention.
To be a true creative force, your focus of attention needs to be on point and accessible. The ability to focus on anything at any time, at your choosing—when and where to direct your attention—is genuinely a superpower for any ...
Being More Present Part 1 of 6
The Game of Creativity: The Power of Presence
In the creative world, the game of creativity begins once you are very present and grounded in the here (hear) and now. Ideally, you are immersed in the moment to work authentically and organically, creatively with your process.
Yes, you can have fragmented attention—bits and pieces scattered all around—and still get work done. But to harness...
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